A jump jockey who has had winners at Cheltenham and rode in this year's Grand National has been jailed for ten months after leading police on a high speed police chase while over the limit.

Charlie Deutsch, twice successful in races at the Home of Jump Racing, reached speeds of up to 114mph in his Audi when he fled police at the roadside.

The 21-year-old, of Beckford Road, Tewkesbury, had been in 21 Club celebrating the retirement of a colleague at Venetia Williams' stables, a place where he was doing well and was tipped as one of the sport's top young talents.

Deutsch, who has ridden 78 winners in the past five seasons, pleaded with Police Sergeant Marcus Forbes-George who arrested him: “Please don't, this will ruin me. I'm a jockey. I have to drive 50,000 miles a year."

He was locked up and banned from driving for 17 months after appearing in court on Thursday.

Prosecutor Janine Wood said the drama unfolded when the police sergeant spotted the sportsman driving too fast in Cheltenham at 1.30am on March 30.

Sgt Forbes-George intended only to warn him about his speed but when he pulled alongside it became apparent the jockey was intoxicated.

Mrs Wood said Deutsch took six attempts to blow into the roadside breathalyser before giving a reading. The test recorded 49 microgrammes in 100 millilitres of breath- the legal limit is 35.

Sgt Forbes-George then arrested the rider.

Charlie Deutsch

Gloucester Crown Court heard the jockey became 'increasingly agitated' and ran back to his vehicle. He started the car as the policeman broke the driver's window with his baton in a bid to remove the ignition key.

He failed and Deutsch drove off with three passengers in his vehicle.

“The other occupants were shouting at him to stop,” Mrs Wood said.

As Deutsch drove away he trapped the officer's arm in the window causing him pain. The struggle also caused the officer to drop his radio which fell into the footwell of Deutsch's car, the court heard.

Traffic officers homed in on the signal from the radio police and saw his Audi A4 pass them with no headlights in Bishop's Cleeve.